TITLE:
PET in uterine malignancies
AUTHORS:
Valeria Pirro, Andrea Skanjeti, Ettore Pelosi
KEYWORDS:
18F-FDG PET/CT; Uterine Malignancies; Cervical Cancer; Endometrial Cancer;
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.2 No.7,
July
23,
2010
ABSTRACT: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or integrated PET/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) with 18F-Fluoro-Deoxy-Glucose (18F-FDG) is a functional imaging modality, useful in the characterization of undetermined morphological findings, and in the staging/re-staging of a large number of malignancies. Although its use in uterine malignancies has been poorly investigated, in recent years the employment of this technique has constantly increased. In this review, we evaluate the role of PET (/CT) with 18FFDG in uterine malignancies (cervical and endometrial cancers as well as uterine sarcomas), underlying its advantages and discussing its limitations. Metabolic and anatomic information given by PET/CT with 18F-FDG could be useful in the evaluation of local and distant disease involvement at the staging, in the detection of disease recurrence, and in the evaluation of the response after chemotherapy and/or radio-therapy.